Extra Services

U.S. still pushing for Futenma relocation

Date Posted: 2012-01-19

Despite swirling controversy about the practicality of moving forward with the Futenma Marine Corps Air Station relocation project to Henoko in northern Okinawa, the Pentagon is still signaling it wants the new airfield to happen.

As U.S. defense strategy is focusing on the Asia-Pacific region, Washington is still telling Japan the Marine airfield slated for Camp Schwab and Oura Bay remains viable, and a part of the American defense plan. The defense strategy is “entirely consistent with our long-stated goal of seeking to have a more geographically diverse, operationally resilient and politically sustainable posture in the Asia-Pacific region, is how the deputy assistant Secretary of Defense for Asia-Pacific Security Affairs explains it.

Michael Schiffer says “the realignment road map, which of course is an effort that we have been engaged in Japan with for a number of years now, is perfectly consistent with our strategy as articulated in this defense guidance to create that new posture and presence in the Asia-Pacific area.